Chapter 582

The 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.

Following custom, Li Heng early that morning carried rooster, meat, and fish—the three offerings—along with two packs of sugar and two bottles of fine wine to the Xiao household.

This time, Xiao Han finally returned, cleared her throat, and asked: "Mr. Li, you're the groom's side, coming per custom to deliver the New Year offerings; I'm the bride's side—should I, per custom, go to your Li household for the New Year?"

A chill ran down Li Heng's spine.

She must have heard something, and that's why she was deliberately suggesting she visit his home for the New Year.

One can be timid, but one's words must not be.

He immediately extended an invitation: "Fine. After lunch, come with me."

At this, Xiao Han turned to her mother, who was preparing lunch, and asked: "Mom, Li Heng is luring me home for the New Year—should I, your daughter, fall for his trick?"

Li Heng: "..."

This wife of his was far too mischievous.

Wei Shiman blinked, then looked at Li Heng with serious expression: "You really plan to take Hanhan home for the New Year?"

She added: "If you do, I won't oppose it in principle."

Clearly, Wei Shiman said she didn't oppose it, but inwardly she still had reservations.

If her daughter went to the Li household for the New Year, it would be like overturning the table—harmful to the reputations of the Xiao, Li, and Chen families alike.

At the same time, Wei Shiman was also thinking of Li Heng's welfare; their daughter's capacity for disruption was no small thing, and at this critical moment, it was better to keep things calm.

Both Li Heng and Xiao Han understood the subtext and recognized the stakes.

Before Li Heng could answer, Xiao Han pouted pitifully: "Ah, never mind. I'm not even married yet, and Mom's already worrying about you."

"Besides, in two years I'll truly be going to Old Li's for the New Year—so for these two years, I'll just stay and keep my dear parents company."

Only then did Wei Shiman realize her daughter had been teasing Li Heng; she exhaled in relief and smiled:

"Once you two are settled in Shanghai, your father and I can come out to spend the New Year with you."

After her mother retreated to the kitchen, Xiao Han turned to Li Heng with a sweet smile and asked: "How many days will you stay in Singapore?"

Li Heng replied, "I leave on the fifth, return on the eighth."

Xiao Han calculated the days—it was only four total. She thought that with Teacher Yu accompanying him the whole time, her honey would behave himself and wouldn't entertain any improper thoughts toward Zhou Shihe.

She knew Teacher Yu was currently at the Li household.

But Teacher Yu wasn't her greatest concern; she actually hoped Teacher Yu would spend the New Year at the Li household, stirring up as much chaos as possible.

If Chen Zijin's base was being eroded, she'd grow even more aligned with Xiao Han.

Xiao Han had mapped out the board: Teacher Yu currently had no illusions about being the primary rival—her true rival was Song Yu, and Zhou Shihe was likely second.

So for now, she didn't need to be aggressive; she could simply temper her sharpness and wait for the situation to shift.

In her strategic map, Zhou Shihe was Qin—strongest on paper, and must be checked early.

Song Yu was Qi—personally no weaker than Zhou, but her family background was a weakness, and her personality lacked assertiveness; her advantage was that she held Li Heng's greatest love.

And that greatest love was also her original sin—something she could exploit to turn all blame toward Song Yu.

Teacher Yu was Zhao—many renowned generals, great prestige, able to hold her own against Qin before the Battle of Changping. But Xiao Han didn't have high hopes for her outcome.

Because right now, Heaven's timing, Earth's advantage, and human harmony all favor Teacher Yu, yet she still hasn't won her honey—proof she's a paper tiger. If Zhou Shihe stays out of the game, fine; but if she enters, a Changping-style disaster may unfold.

One word summarizes it: Song Yu is too "kind," Teacher Yu is too "benevolent."

This is not an age of peace—it's a time of war for men. Kindness and benevolence often become sacrifices.

In her strategic map, Mai Sui was Han—the easiest to handle.

Chen Zijin was Yan—despite the dramatic spectacle of Jin Ke's assassination of Qin (referring to first love and first night), she was ultimately held back by the Chen family and could not grow stronger.

As for Xiao Han herself, she was Chu. There's a famous saying: "Though Chu has only three clans, it will be Chu that destroys Qin."

These eight characters, though brief, were sufficiently imposing.

After lunch, Li Heng stayed another three hours, until his elder sister Li Yan secretly came to find him, at which point he left the Xiao household around 4 p. .

At this moment, Li Heng was writing couplets for the Xiao household, with Xiao Hai, Wei Shiman, Xiao Han, and Xiao Qing watching nearby.

"Knock knock knock!"

"Knock knock knock!"

A knock came at the door; Wei Shiman opened it and found it was Li Yan—a rare guest—and warmly invited her in, serving tea.

But Li Yan had been secretly sent by her mother to summon her brother; she had no time for tea. Once inside, she anxiously told her brother:

"Brother, hurry home—Mom has urgent business with you."

These were Tian Rune's exact words to her eldest daughter, fearing the girl's lack of wit might cause her to blab at the Xiao household.

So Tian Rune had repeatedly instructed her: if she said only this one sentence, it would suffice.

Li Heng froze. But seeing it was his elder sister who came—not his parents—he immediately felt a sinking dread.

He asked no questions; after calmly finishing the Spring Festival couplets, he set down his brush and said: "Uncle, Auntie, Hanhan, I have something urgent and must leave."

He omitted calling Xiao Hai and his wife "Father" and "Mother" to prevent his sister from learning why he'd come to the Xiao household—not because he distrusted her, but because she had no tact whatsoever; any probing question would make her spill everything. He'd learned this lesson too many times before.